Ruth: THAT WILL BE TOUGH FOR ME. I'M INTO THE HAND SHAKE. A LOCAL PROGRAM REACHING OUT TO AT-RISK MOMS IS PROVING TO AND REAL SUCCESS. IT'S CALLED MOM SCHOOL AND DESIGNED TO HELP FIRST-TIME MOTHERS BLOSSOM INTO GREAT PARENTS. THE PROGRAM IS GRADUATING THE FIRST GROUP OF MOMS. PAULA TUTMAN WAS THERE WHEN THIS PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED. THIS HAS TO BE A POSITIVE THING FOR TO YOU SEE SUCH A FANTASTIC RESULT, PAULA. Paula: IT REALLY S I WAS THE EMCEE OF THE LAUNCH, AND I CALL IT MOM SCHOOL. THAT'S NOT THE EXACT NAME OF THE PROGRAM. HOW EXCITING TO BE INVITED BACK TO MEET ONE OF THE FIRST GRADUATES OF THE LOCAL PROGRAM TO FIND OUT WHAT SHE LEARNED AND HOW SHE'S DOING. PATIENCE TAKES TIME. EVERYTHING DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. Paula: IF PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE, BEING TAUGHT THE ART OF PATIENCE IS PURE GRACE. IT WAS THE BEST LESSON SHE LEARNED. TALKING TO HER LIKE SHE'S A PERSON AND NOT A BABY WILL HELP HER DEVELOP MORE. Paula: AS A FIRST-TIME MOTHER APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE, WHEN SHE FIRST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, HER FIRST RESPONSE WAS, HO-HUM. I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WHATEVER. Paula: FROM PREGNANCY TO BIRTH, TO HER FIRST TWO YEARS, A VISITING NURSE HAS MAINTAINED CONSTANT CONTRACT. AMY HAS BECOME FAMILY. WELL... [LAUGHTER] Paula: AND TODAY SHE BROUGHT COMPANY, NURSE IN TRAINING BECAUSE THE PARTNERSHIP IS EXPANDING IN WAYNE COUNTY. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR HER? [INAUDIBLE]. Paula: IT'S IN 41 STATES. LOCALLY, IT IS ADMINISTERED BY THE DETROIT WAYNE COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY. FRIDAY, IT GRADUATED THE FIRST CLASS OF MOMS. STARTING A YOUNG CHILD IN TERMS OF A STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT AND WITH AN EDUCATED MOM, IT MEANS THE WORLD. Paula: WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? HOW ABOUT THE PAYOFF? IT'S FREE TO ANY FIRST-TIME LOW-INCOME MOTHER-TO-BE. THERE'S A $5.70 RETURN. THE POTENTIAL OF APATHETIC MOTHERHOOD IS BROKEN WHEN THEY'RE WEANED OFF OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE. AND THEY'RE TAUGHT TO BE BETTER STEWARDS OF NOT ONLY THEIR HOUSEHOLD BUT THE COMMUNITY. THE MORE EMPHASIS WE CAN PLACE ON MOTHERS AND BABIES AND ALLOWING THEM AN APPROPRIATE AND HEALTHY START IN LIFE, WE'RE GONNA SEE REMARKABLE CHANGE. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE. Paula: YOU KNOW WHAT, I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE LISTENING TO THEM TALK. EVEN THOSE THERE'S BEEN A GRADUATION, THEY TALK LIKE FRIENDS AND FAMILY. AND MORE STATISTICS: 48% REDUCTION IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT WITH THESE PROGRAMS. 56% WE DEDUCTION IN EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS FOR POISONINGS. AND 32% REDUCTION IN SUBSEQUENT PREGNANCIES. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. IT'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE. THE FIRST CYCLE HERE IN DETROIT, THEY'RE SHOWING RESULTS! AMAZING! IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, GO TO OUR WEBSITE, CLICKONDETROIT.COM. WE HAVE IT POSTED ON OUR HEALTH PAGE. WHAT A GREAT, GREAT PROGRAM CHANGING OUR COMMUNITIES. BECAUSE WHEN YOU CHANGE THE LIVES OF MOTHERS, YOU CHANGE THE LIVES OF COMMUNITIES, RUTH. Ruth: YES, INDEED. ANY PARENT IN ANY SITUATION CAN USE MORE PARENTING SKILLS. SO THIS IS FANTASTIC.

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